Bradley Cooper is nearing a deal to produce and potentially star in "Red Blooded American," a movie about disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong and his former teammate Tyler Hamilton that will be directed by Jay Roach, an individual familiar with the Warner Bros. project has told TheWrap.

Cooper has not decided whether to play Armstrong or Hamilton, the latter of whom blew the whistle on the seven-time Tour de France winner's doping habits.

Personally, I think it'd be more interesting to see Cooper as Hamilton, who struggled with the decision of whether to remain loyal to Armstrong or do the right thing by turning him in. Cooper was so good as a cop with a conscience in "The Place Beyond the Pines," and while Armstrong is certainly the flashier role, Hamilton provides greater dramatic potential.

A representative for Cooper had no comment regarding the news.

Scott Z. Burns ("Side Effects") wrote "Red Blooded American," which Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are producing for Atlas Entertainment. Cooper would also produce with Roach and Michael Radutzky, the CBS News exec who orchestrated Hamilton's appearance on "60 Minutes."

WB and Atlas are racing against another Armstrong movie that Stephen Frears will direct for Working Title. Written by John Hodge ("Trainspotting"), that project has Ben Foster set to play Armstrong.

Cooper has long been rumored to play Armstrong in yet another rival project that Bad Robot's J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing for Paramount. That film is based on the book "Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong" by New York Times sportswriter Juliet Macur.

Of course, Cooper has an opening in his jam-packed schedule now that Steven Spielberg pulled out of directing WB's "American Sniper," which would've found Cooper playing Chris Kyle, who has the most confirmed sniper kills in U.S. military history. Cooper is now searching for a new director, as he's also producing the film through his 22nd & Indiana banner.

The "Silver Linings Playbook" star will spend the fall filming Cameron Crowe's next movie with Emma Stone and Rachel McAdams before the start of awards season, which will see him promoting David O. Russell's "American Hustle." He's represented by CAA.